Irish Republican News · October 22, 2003

`Dissident loyalists' blamed for attacks on warders

Two separate petrol bomb attacks on prison officers' homes have benn blamed on unionist paramilitaries.

The attacks were the latest in a series of incidents linked to a dispute at Maghaberry Prison.

In the first incident on Monday night an officer's home in Carnmoney was targeted. A car outside the house was also set on fire.

In a separate incident, a house that once belonged to a prison officer in the Ballyduff area of Newtownabbey was attacked with petrol bombs.

Loyalist paramilitaries have denied being responsible for several attacks, including 12 so far this month, on the homes of serving and former prison officers.

Last week three severely disabled people escaped injury when a crude explosive device ignited outside the home of an ex-prison officer.

In a separate incident on the same day, a device was found at the home of a serving prison officer in the Ballyharry area of Newtownards.

Tommy Kirkham , a councillor for the area where the attacks took place, insisted the main suspects, the UDA, were not to blame.

Mr Kirkham, a spokesman for the Ulster Political Research Group which represents the UDA, condemned those responsible.

``It has to be dissident loyalists, it can't be anyone else,'' he said.

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